OT: Driving

[Bones45]

One of my passions.

Give me a manual tranny and an open curvy road and I'm happy.

Have been Honda guy my whole life --- 87 and 00 Preludes, 92 Accord, 03 TL, 01 Maxima.

Rented a 355 in Hawaii -- it was incredible. Also rented a Viper, it was raucous. Just silly.

Pet Peeves:

1. People who don't signal.

2. Even worse, people who signal AS they are changing lanes. No need to signal if you are already halfway into your turn. The idea is to tell people what you intend on doing, not what you are currently doing.

3. People who litter - from their cars (well, out of their cars too) -- something about throwing your trash/butt out the window of your car, which fires me up. Totally disrespectful, lazy, disgusting, and gross. Not to mention, incurring the cost to clean up your mess and possible road hazard. Take your cig butt and throw it in the backseat, you loser.

4. People who drive, not PASS in the left lane. Go as slow as you want, but do it in the proper lane. Left lane is for passing, not for driving with the pace of traffic.

5. People who can't merge. People who can't merge and STOP on the on-ramp. Now I know that on some roads, they don't give you a lot of room, and sometimes due to traffic, you have no choice but to stop and wait. Understood. But I have been behind people who STOP at the beginning of the on-ramp, and look out their side view mirror for a spot to come in. Guess what, if you accelerate up to speed immediately, your job just became a lot easier.

I'm sure there are more, but these are a good start.

PS. I'm NOT the guy who has a lowered Honda, whose exhaust you hear from blocks away. My rides are stock, and clean, and have 80's music playing.

Click to read more...

 

[13th Floor]

Do NOT come to California, haha. The non-signaling drives me up a wall. I swear there is a game here based around not signaling. Like it is a sign of weakness and since nobody else signals, you don't have to signal. It's pretty insane.

I seriously wish it were more heavily penalized and enforced. There is not one thing even remotely close to the benefit vs effort trade-off of signaling. You can hardly even turn your wheel without accidentally signaling. It requires such minimal effort, and it is rather important to, you know, let other people on the road know where you intend on putting your 2-ton metal death trap.

In talking to people about it, it bothers me that they take it upon themselves to use discretion when it matters to signal or not. Most people have no idea how many people around them signaling has an effect on. Most just think it is for people behind them who won't smash into their car (i.e., a brake warning). It affects pedestrians, bike riders, the person to your left and right, the guy a block ahead is trying to turn onto the road, the lady across the street unsure if she can turn into the intersection... pretty much every single person who can see your car would like to know what the hell you are doing with it. Grr.

 

[CaptDenisPotvin]

One of my passions.

Give me a manual tranny and an open curvy road and I'm happy.

Have been Honda guy my whole life --- 87 and 00 Preludes, 92 Accord, 03 TL, 01 Maxima.

Rented a 355 in Hawaii -- it was incredible. Also rented a Viper, it was raucous. Just silly.

Pet Peeves:

1. People who don't signal.

2. Even worse, people who signal AS they are changing lanes. No need to signal if you are already halfway into your turn. The idea is to tell people what you intend on doing, not what you are currently doing.

3. People who litter - from their cars (well, out of their cars too) -- something about throwing your trash/butt out the window of your car, which fires me up. Totally disrespectful, lazy, disgusting, and gross. Not to mention, incurring the cost to clean up your mess and possible road hazard. Take your cig butt and throw it in the backseat, you loser.

4. People who drive, not PASS in the left lane. Go as slow as you want, but do it in the proper lane. Left lane is for passing, not for driving with the pace of traffic.

5. People who can't merge. People who can't merge and STOP on the on-ramp. Now I know that on some roads, they don't give you a lot of room, and sometimes due to traffic, you have no choice but to stop and wait. Understood. But I have been behind people who STOP at the beginning of the on-ramp, and look out their side view mirror for a spot to come in. Guess what, if you accelerate up to speed immediately, your job just became a lot easier.

I'm sure there are more, but these are a good start.

PS. I'm NOT the guy who has a lowered Honda, whose exhaust you hear from blocks away. My rides are stock, and clean, and have 80's music playing.

Sell Nissan's at the moment....just took out a 370Z Nismo manual with RevMatch....don't know if you would be able to rent one or even take one for a road test at a dealership (there aren't a ton of them out there) but if you get a chance....take it. Not particularly a "car guy" as I'm a banker by trade but that and the GTR's certainly are worth a spin.

 

[On Edge]

Tailgaters are my biggest pet peeve - as well people throwing garbage out the window at a light on service road off LIE. They must not think people SEE THEM! Also - what is the deal with nose picking in the car like there is a force field or something that protects them from being seen?? People are pigs.

Just started to take flying lessons - may come in handy with the LIRR stuff happening.

Love the open road too...the sky though is limitless!

 

[Felix Unger]

Give me a manual tranny and an open curvy road and I'm happy.

All I read was 'curvy', 'manual', 'tranny'.

 

[Bones45]

All I read was 'curvy', 'manual', 'tranny'.

Wrong Forum.

 

[stranger34]

Most enjoyable drive I have ever had was on the open roads of Nevada and Arizona driving from Phoenix to the Four Corners to the Grand Canyon and finally to Vegas.

I've had a variety of different cars

2000-2001: 1987 VW Cabriolet (Manual)
2001-2002: 1986 Jeep CJ-7
2002-2009: 1991 Mazda Miata (Manual)
2005-2014: 2005 Ford Mustang
2014 - present: 2014 BMW 328i xdrive

 

[QuadDeuces]

I absolutely love driving (which is good because my business requires that I put on about 20k miles/year, and I spend a good amount of time traveling for pleasure on top of that).

My choice of cars is a bit different than that of most:

- 1999 Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L
- 2007 Hummer H3 5-speed
- 2009 Hummer H3T 5-speed (current)

I'm an avid snowboarder, so I've always preferred to have an SUV with good 4x4 capabilities. That said, I had a brief opportunity right after high school to work part time with an auto exporter, so I got to drive a number of different, cool vehicles. Always been a fan of the way Audis drive, especially with Quattro.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

A person who cannot merge is the most frustrating thing on Earth

 

[QuadDeuces]

A person who cannot merge is the most frustrating thing on Earth

I wish this were Facebook, as I would "LIKE" this more times than I can count.

 

[PWJunior]

In Boston, the people here seem to think that a YIELD sign means that you speed up into merging traffic with no regard for any cars coming. Plus the city planners with their multiple Rotaries (the dreaded YIELD sign dynamic comes into play here)...

The people here also have no driving etiquette, at all. The protocol for trying to turn into a street with oncoming traffic is to just stick the nose out of the car half way into the street, blocking all the cars. I personally never let them go and flip them the bird for being stupid.

/rant

 

[Poliz24]

I am a NASCAR fan, if you want exciting, loud, powerful, skilled all falling under the umbrella of driving, I suggest you watch. Just give it one race, if you have an opportunity I suggest going to a live race. The tailgating is like going to an NFL game but for the ENTIRE weekend. There is so much access, the entire environment is very welcoming and allows for very strong fan interaction with drivers and teams. Anyway to end the rant... 900 horsepower, 9000 RPM, it is more then turning left or going in circles. The concentration and skill these drivers posses handling a car with that much power is an unbelievable sight to see.

P.S. many tracks offer driving experiences.

And I want a Corvette as well as an old-school muscle car when I can afford one.

 

[islesfan186]

One of my passions.

Give me a manual tranny and an open curvy road and I'm happy.

Have been Honda guy my whole life --- 87 and 00 Preludes, 92 Accord, 03 TL, 01 Maxima.

Rented a 355 in Hawaii -- it was incredible. Also rented a Viper, it was raucous. Just silly.

Pet Peeves:

1. People who don't signal.

2. Even worse, people who signal AS they are changing lanes. No need to signal if you are already halfway into your turn. The idea is to tell people what you intend on doing, not what you are currently doing.

3. People who litter - from their cars (well, out of their cars too) -- something about throwing your trash/butt out the window of your car, which fires me up. Totally disrespectful, lazy, disgusting, and gross. Not to mention, incurring the cost to clean up your mess and possible road hazard. Take your cig butt and throw it in the backseat, you loser.

4. People who drive, not PASS in the left lane. Go as slow as you want, but do it in the proper lane. Left lane is for passing, not for driving with the pace of traffic.

5. People who can't merge. People who can't merge and STOP on the on-ramp. Now I know that on some roads, they don't give you a lot of room, and sometimes due to traffic, you have no choice but to stop and wait. Understood. But I have been behind people who STOP at the beginning of the on-ramp, and look out their side view mirror for a spot to come in. Guess what, if you accelerate up to speed immediately, your job just became a lot easier.

I'm sure there are more, but these are a good start.

PS. I'm NOT the guy who has a lowered Honda, whose exhaust you hear from blocks away. My rides are stock, and clean, and have 80's music playing.

People who don't signal drive me nuts! I mean seriously, it takes like 2 lbs of pressure from your pinky finger to enable a blinker...is it that ****ing hard lol?! And agreed with people signaling mid turn, the purpose of the blinker is to tell me you're turning relatively soon, don't turn it on when you're mid turn. I seriously wonder how so many people still have their licenses (not just blinker stuff, NY drivers as a whole are pretty terrible)

 

[Pnut]

Pet Peeves:

2. Even worse, people who signal AS they are changing lanes. No need to signal if you are already halfway into your turn. The idea is to tell people what you intend on doing, not what you are currently doing.

4. People who drive, not PASS in the left lane. Go as slow as you want, but do it in the proper lane. Left lane is for passing, not for driving with the pace of traffic.


I'm sure there are more, but these are a good start.

PS. I'm NOT the guy who has a lowered Honda, whose exhaust you hear from blocks away. My rides are stock, and clean, and have 80's music playing.

Agree with especially those two, what is the point of signaling, these people must have some kind of weird guity conscience or think that signaling (even late) is better than not signaling at all.
Guess what stu-nads it isn't.

All I read was 'curvy', 'manual', 'tranny'.

Damn, you beat me to it Dan.

Most enjoyable drive I have ever had was on the open roads of Nevada and Arizona driving from Phoenix to the Four Corners to the Grand Canyon and finally to Vegas.

I've had a variety of different cars

2000-2001: 1987 VW Cabriolet (Manual)
2001-2002: 1986 Jeep CJ-7
2002-2009: 1991 Mazda Miata (Manual)
2005-2014: 2005 Ford Mustang
2014 - present: 2014 BMW 328i xdrive

1996-1998: 1991 Ford Escort stick
1998-1999: 1989 Plymouth Reliant K (what, huh? K-car)
1999-2001: 1988 Chevy Celebrity
2001-2003: 1987 Chevy Celebrity
Jan 2003-Present: 2002 Hyundai Accent

I dare anyone to beat that ****** list!

In Boston, the people here seem to think that a YIELD sign means that you speed up into merging traffic with no regard for any cars coming. Plus the city planners with their multiple Rotaries (the dreaded YIELD sign dynamic comes into play here)...

The people here also have no driving etiquette, at all. The protocol for trying to turn into a street with oncoming traffic is to just stick the nose out of the car half way into the street, blocking all the cars. I personally never let them go and flip them the bird for being stupid.

/rant

You expect anything different outta Boston?

Faghettaboutit.

,
Pnut

 

[Sparksrus3]

Tailgaters are my biggest pet peeve - as well people throwing garbage out the window at a light on service road off LIE. They must not think people SEE THEM! Also - what is the deal with nose picking in the car like there is a force field or something that protects them from being seen?? People are pigs.

Just started to take flying lessons - may come in handy with the LIRR stuff happening.

Love the open road too...the sky though is limitless!

Tailgaters - in New York/ Long Island if you leave even 1 car length between you and the guy in front of you a -non signaling- on the phone- lane drifting- give you the finger- drive either 20 mph over or 20 mph under the speed limit- piece of poop probably a ranger fan- will cut into that one car length.
Thennnnnn- he/she slows down starts to turn then gives you the old F.U. With 1 click of the blinker .
Thennnnn- just when you slow down because you had to, 3 more cars take your spot and it all starts again.
How about the guy that exits into the entrance ramp merge lane just to pass 4-5 cars then merge right back in front of you.( somebody reading this is guilty) ( admit it)
I think I saw a honda do it. Lol
All I have to say is thank g-d I drink when I drive home in traffic . It takes the stress away from having to be Mario Andretti just to get home.

 

[bstash19]

A person who cannot merge is the most frustrating thing on Earth

they're annoying, but nowhere near as annoying as these 2 things:

people who drive the same speed as the car next to them, thus backing up traffic (why couldn't you just get behind the other car, you're going the same speed anyway)

people who pull out in front of you (basically cutting you off) when there is no one behind you for as far as the eye can see. they really couldn't have waited 1 second more.

those 2 things burn me up, almost on a daily basis.



current cars:
2012 subaru wrx
1969 ford mustang

past cars: (mostly pos's)
1987 gmc s15
1984 gmc k3500
1995 ford explorer
1987 toyota pickup
1992 oldsmobile ninety eight
1992 chevy c1500
1987 chevy c2500
2008 nissan altima

thats in the right order, but i couldn't tell you the timeline in which i drove them.

 

[bigtim1988]

One of my passions.

Give me a manual tranny and an open curvy road and I'm happy.

Have been Honda guy my whole life --- 87 and 00 Preludes, 92 Accord, 03 TL, 01 Maxima.

Rented a 355 in Hawaii -- it was incredible. Also rented a Viper, it was raucous. Just silly.

Pet Peeves:

1. People who don't signal.

2. Even worse, people who signal AS they are changing lanes. No need to signal if you are already halfway into your turn. The idea is to tell people what you intend on doing, not what you are currently doing.

3. People who litter - from their cars (well, out of their cars too) -- something about throwing your trash/butt out the window of your car, which fires me up. Totally disrespectful, lazy, disgusting, and gross. Not to mention, incurring the cost to clean up your mess and possible road hazard. Take your cig butt and throw it in the backseat, you loser.

4. People who drive, not PASS in the left lane. Go as slow as you want, but do it in the proper lane. Left lane is for passing, not for driving with the pace of traffic.

5. People who can't merge. People who can't merge and STOP on the on-ramp. Now I know that on some roads, they don't give you a lot of room, and sometimes due to traffic, you have no choice but to stop and wait. Understood. But I have been behind people who STOP at the beginning of the on-ramp, and look out their side view mirror for a spot to come in. Guess what, if you accelerate up to speed immediately, your job just became a lot easier.

I'm sure there are more, but these are a good start.

PS. I'm NOT the guy who has a lowered Honda, whose exhaust you hear from blocks away. My rides are stock, and clean, and have 80's music playing.

THANK YOU!! that drives me crazy. I dont care if you're going 80 mph; the left lane is for PASSING. I'm teaching my girlfriend how to drive, and that was one--of many--things that I stressed.

cars ive owned:
1989 Volkswagen Jetta-- my first car, and probably my favorite. the thing handled great, and had character, but it was the antithesis of reliable
1994 S-10 pickup 4.3L--wasnt a fan of little trucks, but i actually liked the thing a lot
2002- chevy impala--(current)had it since 2007, and i have almost 200k on it. great car, just a little boring, and it handles like a whale
1992 Ford F150 4x4 5.0 HO.( current) love the truck, but i use it only when i am going to be making money/snow/ recreation. 11 mpg no matter what i do.

I hate any car thats been lowered, because it is totally not practical. there are no tracks on long island, you're just asking for chassis damage/uneven tire ware having a car that low. I saw a brand new scion FRS (which handles very well in stock form) with its rear wheel camber as far negative as humanly possible, making it look like the car had serious problems. I HATE gaudy customizations;actually, I hate basically any customization (fake hood scoops, fake louvers, 22 inch rims, chrome rims, clear tail lights, overly large spoilers, ugly grills, fart cans) it drives me up a wall. im a purist when it comes to that kind of stuff.

Now normally, I'm a pretty laid back individual, but once i get behind the wheel, its almost as if all the aggravation throughout the day comes out. it basically comes from the blatant disregard for the rules of the road--both written, and unwritten. so ill list some of my gripes (besides left lane being passing only):

1. People who drive abusively below the speed limit--25 in a 40, 40 in a 55-- i dont like to tailgate people, but when that happens, i make sure i get as close as possible. that usually makes them pull over.

2. Driving on the highway, and being stuck in a cluster of cars, meanwhile there is miles of open road ahead of said cluster. That goes back to some yokel driving too slow in the left lane.

3. people who take 2 years to make a turn

4. people who tailgate me if im doing 75-80 mph

5. When the cops sit in the median, making everyone pretend that we're going 55 mph. i have a pretty good radar detector, and 99 percent of the time they do not have the radar on.

6. people who sit in my blind spot.

7. when two cars sit next to each other on a 2 lane highway. i call this a "cockblock"

8.people who insist on making a left turn onto a road where its virtually IMPOSSIBLE to make a left turn on at certain times of day. this causes a back up of cars.

9. red light cameras

10. people who make dangerous mistakes that end up getting pissed off at you for getting mad at them. its like dude, its a right on red, but YOU STILL HAVE TO STOP! you dont roll out, nearly hitting me, and than want to attack me for giving you the finger, or calling you an "*******"

 

[19NYSports91]

1) Female drivers
2) People who brake in front of me when NO ONE is in front of them.
3) When I change lanes and the car in front of me brakes for no reason. I don't get it.
4) People who drive slow in the left lane on Sagtikos pkwy. They don't want to drive in the right lane because other people merge onto the right lane.

Most of the other issues people have already said.

 

[The Underboss]

One day they need to make bumper cars legal on the open roads. Think of how fun that would be. Too many idiots driving nowadays.

 

[doublechili]

Now here's an even better topic than hockey. Seriously, I love driving more than almost anything. One of my favorite all-time movies is "Senna", if that tells you anything.

I've owned only manual transmission cars since I was 19, and I'm 53 now. My current car is a Civic SI 4 door sedan, which seems to be somewhat popular among us older guys. Past favorites: '99 Saab Viggen; '91 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro (my all-time fav along with my current car); '95 Audi S6. I had an MT Isuzu Trooper for a couple of years - I've always wanted to start a racing league using only those big top-heavy, tippy, slow things.

Pet peeve: I've got a LOT of them, but probably the #1 thing is people who drive too slow in the left lane blocking traffic on a highway, but then when there is finally a break in traffic and a lane opens up and the line of traffic behind them thinks they'll finally get a chance to pass them, they accelerate to try to stay ahead of everyone until they get to the next mass of traffic and slow back down again. Special place in Hell for those people.

 

[islesfan186]

The best is when you see a Nassau County Cop on his cell phone while driving...how are they supposed to enforce a law that they themselves can't even follow. Bluetooth devices are like 30 bucks, how the NCPD doesn't provide their officers with them for safety's sake is mindblowing...also they make 100,000 dollars a year, so they can definitely afford it if its not provided for them.
Also love when they don't feel like sitting at a red light and they turn on the lights and siren just to go through it and then turn it off again once they're through the intersection.
I'm not all anti-cop, I have 2 uncles who have been cops (one NCPD and one NYPD) for almost 30 years. The double standards just irk me...just like when I was in the Army. Officers and Enlisted apparently had 2 different sets of standards

 

[MarginallyTalented]

I'm driving an 2003 BMW M3 SMG currently, very fast and fun to drive. I also recently bought a 58 Corvette (life without power steering/brakes was rough haha). Biggest pet peeve by far, bar none, is when people drive slow in the left lane on a two lane highway

 

[Isles5513]

Tailgaters are my biggest pet peeve - as well people throwing garbage out the window at a light on service road off LIE. They must not think people SEE THEM! Also - what is the deal with nose picking in the car like there is a force field or something that protects them from being seen?? People are pigs.

Just started to take flying lessons - may come in handy with the LIRR stuff happening.

Love the open road too...the sky though is limitless!

I agree. I can't stand tailgaters. Also, I can't stand driving on the Jersey Turnpike and on the Garden state. I remember driving Down to Brick, NJ on the Garden State. We were in te local lane and then we saw a cop turn on his lights in the "express" lane. The speed limit I think is around 55 MPH but this cop was probably going around 70 on the sholder. All of the sudden, he cut through a break in the divider and the cup cut across into the local lane, risking his life and many others, all just to give one ticket.

Also, good luck on the flying lessons. Might need them soon. I would like to take some but I probably won't.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I have an Audi A4 now, but my best "driving" car was my 06' Acura RSX-Type S. Fun to drive. My wife got hit while driving it, so I had to say goodbye. Too small to carry my kid around in anyway. Back to automatic transmission. If I find a 70's 240/260z in good condition, I'll pick it up and use it as my fun car.

 

[KasparsHipCheck]

I drive "fuel-efficient" vehicles, while most of my family drives luxury (i.e. gas guzzlers).
I agree completely with the whole driving in the left-hand lane gripe. It's a pisser, especially when you need to get someplace important--like work, doctor;s, school, etc. The only thing worse is when you have someone in the left-lane who insists deliberately to go the same speed as the guy next to him in the right-lane. Aghh!!! This is a complete jerk move--it screams "I had a crap day and now I want to ruin everyone else's as well", all over it.
My car is good--just a reliable Nissan. A few times I've taken out my friend's Audi A6 and that is a heavy car that just grabs the road in all weather elements/conditions. I'd love to take it out for a nice roadtrip that involves roads with awesome curves on it (that I know like the back of my hand of course), and just let it rip around the bends.
Also drive an X3 occassionally--its overpriced junk on wheels.
I dream about what it would be like to own a Range Rover, then I wake-up and do the financial calculations on how it would impact my wallet on gas alone--not to mention insurance and increased cost of monthly payments--I'd be eating Ramen again for a long long time.